Do you know how far you will drive on the freeway if you take your eyes off the road for five seconds, the average time it takes to send a text? An entire football field.
According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, texting while driving makes drivers 23 times more likely to get into a "safety-critical event."
The purpose of this scholarship is to help you understand the risks of texting while driving. For more information on texting while driving, please see these articles.
Who may apply: You must be a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior or a current or entering college or graduate school student of any level. Home schooled students are also eligible. There is no age limit. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
How to apply: Complete the application form below including a 140-character message about texting while driving. The top 10 applications will be selected as finalists. The finalists will be asked to write a full length 500- to 1,000-word essay about texting while driving.
Deadline: September 30, 2025 to coincide with September's No Texting while Driving Day.
How we'll select the winner: We'll select the 10 finalists based on the content of the 140-character message. The winner will be selected based on the content and creativity of the 500- to 1,000-word essay.
Awards: The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship.